The CICS DELAY statement is used to delay the execution of a task (transaction) for a specified amount of time. It allows timing control within a transaction, ensuring that specific actions occur after a delay. The default value is INTERVAL(0).

Syntax -

EXEC CICS DELAY
     [INTERVAL(hhmmss)]
	 [TIME(hhmmss)]
	 [FOR HOURS(hh) | MINUTES(mm) | SECONDS(ss)]
     [UNTIL HOURS(hh) | MINUTES(mm) | SECONDS(ss)]
     [REQID(request-id)]
     [RESP(response-field)]
     [RESP2(response-field2)]
     END-EXEC.

• INTERVAL(hhmmss) - Specifies the time interval to elapse from the time when the DELAY command is issued.
• TIME(hhmmss) - Specifies the time when the task should resume processing.
• HOURS(hh) - Specifies the hours range from 0–99.
• MINUTES(mm) - Specifies value in the range from 0–59, when HOURS or SECONDS are also coded. Specifies value in the range from 0–5999 when MINUTES is the only option coded.
• SECONDS(ss) - Specifies value in the range from 0–59, when HOURS or MINUTES are also coded. Specifies value in the range from 0–359 999 when SECONDS is the only option coded.
• SYSID(system-name) - Specifies the system name to which the request is directed.
• REQID(name) - Specifies a unique name (1–8 characters) to identify the DELAY request.
• RESP(response-variable) - Optional. It captures the response code of the DELAY operation and used to check if the command executed successfully or encountered an error.
• RESP2(response2-variable) - Optional. It captures the response2 code of the DELAY operation when the error occured.

Short Examples -

Scenario - Pausing Execution for 10 Seconds

...
DATA DIVISION.
WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
01 WS-TRANS-ID    PIC X(4)  VALUE 'TRN1'. 
01 WS-RESP        PIC S9(4) COMP.

PROCEDURE DIVISION.

    EXEC CICS DELAY
         INTERVAL(000010)  *> Wait for 10 seconds
         RESP(WS-RESP)
         END-EXEC.

    IF WS-RESP = DFHRESP(NORMAL) THEN
       ...
	ELSE
		...
	END-IF.

	...

The program starts execution and displays a message. The DELAY command pauses execution for 10 seconds (INTERVAL(000010)). After 10 seconds, execution resumes, and a message is displayed. The response code (RESP) is checked to confirm successful execution.

Error Conditions -

Eror Condition	RESP	RESP2	Reason
INVREQ	16	4	Hours are out of range.
	16	5	Minutes are out of range.
	16	6	Seconds are out of range.
EXPIRED	31		Occurs if the time specified has already expired when the command is issued.

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